India wins over Australia

India’s entirely satisfactory eight-wicket win over Australia in the fourth and final Test in Dharamsala brought to an end a thrilling series marked by exceptional skills and tenacity — apart from some puerile behaviour unbecoming of international sportspersons.  India’s comprehensive win — that too on the fourth day itself — of the final Test stamped their dominance in the last three Tests after the visitors had gone 1-0 up with a shock win in Pune. Australia tested India to the hilt, and India deserve credit for coming back strongly after a shattering 333-run defeat in Pune.

Australia deserve to be applauded for the brave and tenacious cricket they played. They faced a formidable challenge here — India had won eight of the nine Tests played this season, and even unbiased experts predicted a 4-0 whitewash of Australia. In our familiar over-confidant manner, we overlooked that Australia had made a very rigorous preparation for this tour by training in Dubai for close to three weeks. They were following England’s example: In 2012, England trained in Dubai before coming to India and winning 2-1. Australia hoped to do the same and, after their Pune win, they had every reason to feel confident of a triumph in India for the first time since 2004.

Australia’s hopes were not misplaced. At Pune, it was clear that Australia were better prepared than India to bat and bowl on a turning track. But after that rout, the home team, to its credit, fought back hard with a win in Bengaluru, domination in Ranchi and finally the win on Tuesday. India’s wins were quaintly remarkable because there was no contribution from Virat Kohli, the team’s best batsman. As his form fell, the others such as KL Rahul, Pujara, Saha and Jadeja  stepped up to the plate — and delivered. Steve Smith’s three defiant centuries were worthy of an untameable adversary.  He had the grace to apologise for letting his emotions get the better of him. The Indian team, too, was not without its moments of gracelessness. Cricket, like all modern sports, these days is essentially driven by market and money; there is a contrived accent on creating controversies and pumping up nationalistic fervour.  That is not cricket.